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Pastors and wives from Southeast Ohio gathered at Burr Oak Lodge for two days of rest, worship, and encouragement. The 2nd Annual Southeast Ohio Pastors & Wives Retreat was a sacred reminder that healthy leaders help build healthy churches.

This spring, students stepped out of their comfort zones and onto the beach and God moved in ways that exceeded every expectation. There is something unique about watching a student - someone who has been quiet, hesitant, unsure of the words to say - take a breath, approach a stranger, and share the Gospel for the very first time. That is what happened at Beach Reach this year. Not once. Not twice. But across an entire week of ministry, over and over again, as our students s

I first met Brother Bill in the early spring of 2002. I had traveled down to SVBA from Columbus to introduce myself as a new state convention missionary (SCBO). From the first moment we met I liked brother Bill. His smile, mustache, kind demeanor, and of course his signature cowboy hat, were staples I came to enjoy until his passing this week. I so enjoyed my visits to the SVBA office where I most often would find Bill in his office, sitting at his chair and doing the Godly s

Have you ever wondered what it might have been like to live in Jerusalem during the week of Jesus’ triumphant entrance and then the week after His crucifixion and resurrection? How might you have responded to the worlds most significant event? Might it have been with sadness because an innocent man was falsely accused and condemned. Or maybe with joy because a religious zealot and crazy man was finally being silenced. Possibly with curiosity in thinking just who was this guy

Are you attracting people to Christ or repelling them? Jack Helton explores the "spiritual perfume" we wear in this encouraging devotion on 2 Corinthians.

When it comes to connecting with the Scioto Valley Baptist Association (SVBA) in Ohio, you might wonder what the best ways are to get in touch. Whether you’re a pastor, a church member, or someone involved in ministry, knowing how to reach out effectively can make all the difference. I’ve spent some time exploring the most practical and friendly ways to contact SVBA Ohio, and I’m excited to share them with you! Reaching out to SVBA Ohio is more than just sending a message. It

oin Associational Missionary Jack Helton as he reviews the 2025 highlights of the Scioto Valley Baptist Association, featuring church stats and ministry milestones.

Greetings in the blessed name of the Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father! May their grace, peace, and mercy be yours in abundance! Embracing New Beginnings As another year has passed and a new year has dawned, I find myself pondering the idea of making a “New Year’s resolution.” I’m not typically one to set resolutions, but I thought I’d give it a shot as 2026 begins. Many ideas come to mind: daily exercise, watching less TV, limiting social media, or cutting down on the tre

A CHRISTMAS STORY The giving of gifts has been an important part of the celebration of Christmas for centuries. Could it be that this tradition began partly because of the gifts that the Magi gave to the infant Jesus on that first Christmas morning so many years ago? As I think back over the years in which my family has exchanged gifts, the year 1963 stands out. My father had died in October (I was 6). Finances were tight so Mom informed me and my brother Ray that we mig

71st ANNUAL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS *26 Messengers, 3 visitors · Approval of the 2026 Budget ($83,000) · Vertical Church Gallipolis accepted into the SVBA · Vertical Church Jackson accepted into the SVBA · Approval for the sale of Missional Community Church to Mosaic Church Portsmouth · Josh Remy preached a great annual sermon on leadership (learning from the life of Moses) · Approved unanimously all reports · Added Josh Fisher to

As a kid it was the expectation of my mother that my siblings would do their best to make it home for Thanksgiving. That meant that our house would fill up with people, great food, mom’s pumpkin and coconut cream pies, and grandma’s turkey dressing. It was a time of reliving family memories, sharing family pictures, and playing our favorite card game, Rook! As Dorothy said, “there’s no place like home.” And I would add “there’s no better thing than to spend time with family.”

I still remember the day I sat in my truck, parked behind the church, hands gripping the steering wheel, trying to convince myself to...